. >> reporter: president obama is rejecting the republican proposal because it does not raise taxes on households making $250,000 a year. the gop is offering to close tax loopholes and limit deductions instead. >> the revenues on the table are going to come from guess who? the rich. >> reporter: they say if the bush-era tax cuts aren't extended for everyone, it will hurt everyone. and they invited people here to make their point. >> reporter: max olson opened an insurance company this year and is concerned he won't be able to add employees. >> you add their payrolls, plus an extra tax amount, then i may not be able to hire them because of it. >> reporter: president obama pressed his case tuesday, with ceos from some of the largest companies. >> i'm here to tell you, nobody wants to get it done more than me. >> reporter: the president wants to raise taxes on just about everyone in the room to balance the budget. >> we're not insisting on rates just out of spite or out of any kind of partisan bickering. but rather because we need to raise a certain amount of revenue. >> reporter: the pre